Knock-down cabinet assembly



May 16, 1939- K. E. B. STENBERG 2,158,641

KNOCK-DOWN CABINET ASSEMBLY l Filed Jan. 28, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1 2 'hogn c? d l ,20 .III/,j ,0g/ a? j@ 70? w In 444( df l HHH www ff a0 M/ 1 442 ai I K 4d Jf/ m May 16, 1939.

K. E. B. sTENlal-:RGl *KNOCK-DOWN CABINET ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIH IIII

llllllllll illUIIII- II Filed Jan. 28, 1958 Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Knut E. Birger Stenberg, Attleboro, Mass., as-

signor to Associated Attleboro Manufacturers,

Inc., Attleboro, Mass.,

chusetts a corporation of Massa- Application January 28, 1938, Serial No. 187,377

, 6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in cabinet assemblies and is particularly adapted YYfor use in the manufacture of radio cabinets constructed of molded composition plastic material, such as synthetic resin, of the phenol formaldehyde condensation product type, urea formaldehyde condensation product or other type or cellulose products, etc.

While it has been possible to mold small radio cabinets in one piece, the dies therefor have been extremely expensive and my invention relates to a cabinet assembly which will permit the use oi' much smaller dies than formerly thought possible and consequent reduction of expense in the molding apparatus.

A further disadvantage of integrally molded cabinets has been that they have had a sameness of design and a further feature of my invention is to provide an assembly comprising molded panels having interengaging edges provided with interlocking means to make up the cabinet assembly and in which, if desired, respective panels of different colors or design theme may be selectively substituted, thus permitting by variations in c olor or design of a small part of the cabinet many variations in the composite cabinet color or design.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cabinet assembly in which the edges of the various panels when interlocked provide means to positively prevent leakage of gaseous material, such as impurities of the outside air to within or leakage of heat to without.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cabinet assembly which may be knocked down to individual panels which individually occupy a very small space for shipping purposes.

Ihese and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a radio cabinet assembly constructed in accordance with my invention, with the usual radio chassis base and assembled radio parts mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l, with the radio parts removed from the interior thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional vieW taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a disassembled imaginary plan View of the various panels of my invention.

(Cl. S12-7) In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, II] generally indicates a cabinet assembly constructed in accordance with my invention. My invention differs from prior cabinet assemblies in that both the base panel and the cover panel comprise cap portions and, for this purpose, the base panel I2 is not only provided with the bottom wall I4 which may be centrally inset as at I6 to provide the leg portions I8 projecting transversely thereof at each end thereof, but also is provided with the vertically upturned end walls 2U and the vertically upturned front wall 22, and the topi cover panel 24 is provided with the vertically downturned end walls 26 and a vertically downturned front wall 28. Both the front wall 22 of the base panel I2 and the front Wall 2B of the cover panel 24 may be provided with the inset border portions 30 extending a substantial distance centrally thereof for a purpose to be described.

I also provide the intermediate detachable end panels 32 which may, as in the embodiment shown, be provided with extensions 34 extending a distance around the front of the cabinet and terminating with inset border portions 36 at the inner ends thereof to provide a central dial and speaker hole 38 in the front of the cabinet between said end panels 32, cover panel 24 and base panel I2, each of the adjacent surfaces thereof being provided with the inset border forming portions 3|l and 36 to provide the continuous border 40 for said hole 38.

Each intermediate detachable end panel 32 therefor is provided with a respective top edge 42 adapted to abut the bottom edge 44 of the vertically downwardly extending wall of the cover panel 24 and with a bottom edge 46 adapted to abut the top edge 48 of the vertically upwardly extending wall of the base panel I2. In other words, the end panels 32 are adapted to be interposed between the vertically extending edges of the cover panel 24 and base panel I2.

The panels may, if desired, be constructed of any suitable shape or design and, while preferably molded from plastic material may be constructed of any suitable material.

To provide the desired Ventilating holes for the cabinet, in the embodiment shown, each of the end panels 32 is provided with a solid vertically extending front portion 50 and a solid vertically extending rear portion 52 and the horizontally extending bars 54 are provided, joining the front and rear portions 50 and 52 together and pro- Ll l) viding between them the horizontally disposed open slitted portions 56 for Ventilating or speaker hole purposes. These bar portions 54 may be constructed hollow for the purpose of saving stock and, if sheet material be employed in the mold to make up the panel, it is apparent that the material forming the slits may be readily shaped to make up the walls of the hollow barsr 54, thus providing a structure which may be readily molded from sheet material.

The base panel I2 may be provided with the holes 58 for the various control rods 6llA on which the usual turning knobs 62 may be conveniently mounted. The central dial holeA 38, may have a dial plate 64 inserted therein having suitable wave length insignia 66 thereon adjacent the border portion 40 therefor providing a dial and with a selectively adjustable tuning pointer 68..

I provide vertically projecting means 10 preferably located at substantially each corner of the assembled cabinet for securing the cover panel 24- to said base panel I-2 with the end panels 32 clamped between them in the manner hitherto described and in order to keep the end panels 32 in alignment with the respective base and cover panels I2 and 24, suitablemeans are provided on the respective abuttingedges 42-44 therefor` at the top ofthe end panels and the respective abutting edges 46-48 therefor at the bottom of said end panels 32 for this purpose andv I, thus, in my preferred embodiment, provide at one of said abutting edges 42 or 44 and 46 or 48, spline receiving groove means 12 and I provide at the other of each of said abutting edges 42 or 44 and 46 or 48 cooperating spline means 14. Thus in the embodiment shown, the top edges 48 of the upturned end walls 20 of thel base panel I2 are provided with the spline receiving grooves 12 therein which may extend: or be provided as a continuation therefor in the end portions of the front wall 28 thereof, and the bottom edges 46 of the intermediate detachable end panels 32 are provided withl the splines or ribs 14 projecting downwardly therefrom, and thus in the embodiment shown the bottom edges 44 of the downturned end walls 26 of the cover panel 24 are provided with spline receiving grooves 1.2 therein which may extend or be provided as a continuation therefor in the endportions of the front wall 28 thereof andthe top edges 42 of the intermediate detachable end panels 32 are provided with the splines or ribs 1-4 projecting upwardly therefrom.

In the embodiment shown, the splines 14 and 14 are preferable substantially continuous along the respective top and bottom edges 42 and 46 of said intermediate end panels 32 extendingl if desired around into the front portions 34 of said end panels 32 as shown in Fig. 4.A

In the embodiment shown, however, the cooperating groove means 12 are preferably made as follows. The cover and base panels 24 and I2 respectively are provided with the spaced strengthening vertical ribs 16 on the inner surfaces thereof terminating at each respective edge 44 and 48 thereof. Each of said ribs 16 is provided With a groove forming slot 18 on the end portion thereof between the respective wall edge 44 or 48 and the respective outer rib portion 16 and, if the end walls 32 be provided with the front portions 34 with the respectivek splines 14 or 14 continuing therein, the front walls of said cover and base panels 24 and I2 are similarly each provided with a similar vertical rib-16 similarly slotted as at 18 adjacent each end thereof.

In the embodiment shown, I employ two strengthening ribs, one adjacent the front end and the other adjacent the rear end of said respective end walls, each provided with a slot 18 therein so that said aligned slots 18 provide the spline receiving grooves 12 or 12', which may also extend around the corner of the front walls 22 or 28 therefor and comprise the 'slots 18 in the vertical ribs 16 therein where said front walls are employed, the slots 18 therefore being in the bottom edges of the vertically extending walls of the top panel 24 and in the top edges of the vertically extending walls of the base panel I2.

As stated, I provide screw means 16 projecting vertically upwardly preferably at substantially each corner of the cabinet for securing the cover panel 24 to said base panel I2 with the end panels 32 clamped between them and retained in alignment by the cooperating spline groove means 12-14. In the preferred embodiment for this purpose the base panel is provided at substantially each corner thereof with a hole 88 and the top panel is similarly provided substantially at each corner therefor with a downwardly projecting internally threaded socket 82 and it is thus apparent that when the cabinet is assembled4 the screws 1i! may be inserted upwards through the holes 88 until the threaded ends of the screws abut the threaded sockets 82 and thereupon the screws 18 may be threaded Within said sockets until the heads 84 therefor substantially sink in the countersinks 86 therefor in the holes 88 in the base panel I2.

Fig. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the assembly of my improved cabinet which may conveniently take place upside down. The cover panel 24 is laid on a suitable object. The top edges 42 of the end panels 32 are then, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 4, inserted over the bottom edges 44 of. the front and end walls of the cover panel so that the splines 14 in said end panels will substantially register in the slots 18 forming. the grooves 12 in the bottom edges of the vertically extending frontand end walls 28 and 26 of said cover panel. After the splines 12 at the upper ends of the end panels 32 have registered in their respective spline receiving grooves 14 in the bottom edges of the vertically downwardly extending walls 28 and 26 of the cover panel 24, the base panel 24 is inserted. on the bottom edges of said end panels so that the splines 14 projecting downwardly from said bottom edges 46 thereof will register in the respective slots 18 forming the grooves 12 in the upper edges 48 of the upwardly projecting walls 26 and 22 of said base panel I2. The cabinet then, due to the cooperating splines and grooves, will hold itself together for the insertion of the screws 1B Within the holes 86 and the threaded ends thereof within the threaded sockets 82 to hold and retain the entire assembled cabinet in assembled position.

As stated hitherto my improved knockdown assembly structure provides a structure wherein either the base and cover panels or the end panels may be selectively substituted for those of other color or design thereby permitting many variations of color and design, and it is also apparent that I have provided an improved type of knockdown cabinet assembly with the other advantages .explained above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A knockdown radio cabinet assembly comprising, a base panel having vertically upturned front and end walls having spline receiving groove means in the top edges thereof, a cover panel having vertically downturned front and end walls having cooperating spline receiving groove means in the bottom edges thereof, intermediate detachable end panels having extensions extending a distance around the front of the cabinet providing a central dial hole on the front of the cabinet having bottom and top edges adapted to respectively abut the top and bottom edges of said base and cover panels and having splines extending substantially the length of said top and bottom edges thereof contained within said groove means and vertically projecting means at substantially each corner of the cabinet securing the cover panel to said base panel with said end panels clamped between them.

2. A knockdown radio cabinet assembly oomprising, a base panel having vertically upturned front and end walls, said end walls having spaced strengthening vertical ribs on the inner surfaces thereof, each having a groove-forming slot in the upper end portion thereof between the respective wall top and outer rib portion and said front Wall having a similarly slotted rib adjacent each end thereof, a cover panel having vertically downturned front and end walls, said end walls having spaced strengthening vertical ribs on the inner surfaces thereof each having a grooveforming slot on the lower end portion thereof between the respective wall bottom and outer rib portion and said front wall having a similarly slotted rib adjacent each end thereof, intermediate detachable end panels having extensions extending a distance around the front of the cabinet providing a central dial hole on the front of the cabinet having bottom and top edges adapted to respectively abut the top and bottom edges of said base and cover panels and having splines extending substantially the length of said top and bottom edges thereof contained within said slots, and vertically projecting screw means at substatnially each corner of the cabinet securing the cover panel to said base panel with said end panels clamped beween them.

3. A knockdown radio cabinet assembly comprising, a base panel having vertically upturned end walls, said end Walls having spaced strengthening vertical ribs on the inner surfaces thereof each having a groove-forming slot on the upper end portion thereof between the respective wall top and outer rib portion, a cover panel having vertically downturned end walls, said end walls having spaced strengthening vertical ribs on the inner surfaces thereof each having a grooveforming slot on the lower end portion thereof between the respective Wall bottom and outer rib portion, intermediate detachable end panels having bottom and top edges adapted to respectively abut the top and bottom edges of said base and cover panels and having splines on said top and bottom edges thereof contained within said slots, and vertically projecting screw means securing the cover panel to said base panel with said end panels clamped between them.

4. A knockdown radio cabinet assembly solely comprising, a base panel having vertically upturned front and end walls, a cover panel having verticaly downturned front and end Walls, intermediate detachable end panels having extensions extending a distance around the front of the cabinet providing a central dial hole on-l the front of the cabinet and having bottom and top edges adapted to respectively abut the top and bottom edges of said base and cover panels, one of each of said abutting edges having groove means and the other of each of said abutting edges having spline means thereon contained within said groove means and vertically projecting means at substantially each corner of the cabinet securing the cover panel to said base panel with said end panels clamped between them.

5. A knockdown radio cabinet assembly c-omprising, a base panel having vertically upturned front and end walls, a cover panel having vertically downturned front and end walls, intermediate detachable end panels having extensions extending a distance around the front of the cabinet providing a central dial hole on the front of the cabinet and having bottom and top edges adapted to respectively abut the top and bottom edges of said base and cover panels, one of eaoh of said abutting edges having spaced strengthening vertical ribs on the walls thereof each having a groove-forming slot on the end portion thereof between the respective wall edge and outer rib portion and its respective front wall having a similarly slotted rib adjacent each end thereof, and the other of each of said abutting edges having spline means thereon contained within said slots and vertically projecting means at substantially eac-h corner of the cabinet securing the cover panel to said base panel with said end panels clamped between them.

6. A knockdown radio cabinet assembly comprising a base panel having vertically upturned end walls, a cover panel having vertically downturned end walls, intermediate detachable end panels having bottom and top edges adapted to respectively about the top and bottom edges of said base and cover panels, one of each of said abutting edges having spaced strengthening vertical ribs on the walls thereof each having a groove-forming slot on the end portion thereof between the respective wall edge and outer rib portion, and the other of each of said abutting edges havi-ng spline means thereon contained Within said slots and vertically projecting means securing the cover panel to said base panel with said end panels clamped between them.

KNUT E. BIRGER STENBERG. 

